CUW Early Childhood Education (ONLINE)

This program is offered in both a licensure and non-licensure option. 

Wisconsin licensure option

This program is designed for working adults who wish to pursue a bachelor degree in education and teaching license for children ages birth through grade 3.

Non-licensure option

Students in this option will not obtain a teaching license from the state of Wisconsin. This program is specifically designed for candidates residing outside of Wisconsin who wish to pursue a Concordia education in teaching but do not intend to obtain a Wisconsin teaching license. This option may be particularly appealing to those who are not Wisconsin residents but are interested in earning the Lutheran Teacher Diploma, which would make them eligible to receive a Call from a Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod school to serve as a church worker. This adaptation aligns with federal Department of Education regulations, which restrict out-of-state learners from enrolling in licensure programs outside their home state.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Pupil Development. The teacher understands how pupils grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas. The teacher designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences for pupils.
  2. Learning Differences. The teacher uses his or her understanding of individual pupil differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each pupil to meet high standards.
  3. Learning Environments. The teacher works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
  4. Content Knowledge. The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of each discipline he or she teaches. The teacher creates learning experiences that make the discipline accessible and meaningful for pupils to assure mastery of the content.
  5. Application of Content. The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage pupils in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
  6. Assessment. The teacher understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage pupils in their own growth, to monitor pupil progress, and to guide the teacher’s and pupil’s decision making.
  7. Planning for Instruction. The teacher plans instruction that supports every pupil in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, pedagogy, pupils, and pupils’ communities.
  8. Instructional Strategies. The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage pupils to develop a deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to develop skills to apply knowledge in a meaningful way.
  9. Professional Learning and Ethical Practice. The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning. The teacher uses evidence to continuously evaluate the teacher’s practice, including the effects of the teacher’s choices and actions on pupils, their families, other educators, and the community. The teacher adapts the teacher’s practice to meet the needs of each pupil.
  10. Leadership and Collaboration. The teacher seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunity in order to take responsibility for pupil learning, to collaborate with pupils, their families, educators, and the community, and to advance the profession.
  11. CUW Faith Standard: Educators model Christian servant leadership by demonstrating consistent moral and ethical behavior, inspiring others by example in their personal, professional, and community lives. In Christian schools, teachers integrate faith and learning, embodying a biblical worldview while fostering a value system that emphasizes character, mission, and service. Teacher candidates seeking the Lutheran Teacher Diploma adhere to the doctrine and practice of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Curriculum

Post-Traditional Core Requirements44-47
Early Childhood Major Requirements (Public)73
Early Childhood Major Requirements (Lutheran or Christian Ed)79
Electives0-3
Total Hours120-126

Core Curriculum

Theology - Public Education
REL 1000The Bible3
REL 1100Christian Faith3
Theology - Lutheran (LTD) & Christian (CTC)
REL 2010Old Testament3
REL 2020New Testament3
REL 2030Biblical Theology3
CCE 1020Western Culture & Worldview3
CCE 1030Western Thought & Worldview3
CCE 1040Science & Humanity3
Liberal Arts Dimensions
ENG 2100College Writing3
Communication or Language course3
Faith and Life Elective3
ED 1102Foundations of Education3
HHP 1115Fit and Well2
Human Creativity and Expression: Art, Music, Theater, Literature or Graphic Design activity course3
MATH 1190Number Sense: Teaching Pre K-93
ENV 1050Introduction to Environmental Science3
ED 1103Human Relations for Teachers3
Society & Culture elective3

Early Childhood Major Requirements

Theoretical Component
ED 1230Nature of the Exceptional Child3
ED 1231Best Practices in Engaging Children in Literacy3
ED 1275Human Learning3
ED 4411The Profession and Ethics of Teaching3
Practical Component
ED 2204The Art & Science of Teaching Reading3
ED 2221Infant and Toddler Development3
ED 2327Collaborating with Families and Professionals in a Diverse Society3
ED 2358Emergent Writing: Birth to Grade 32
ED 2466Health, Safety, and Fitness for the Young Child3
ED 3356STEM: Math in Early Childhood2
ED 3357STEM: Science and Environment in Early Childhood2
ED 3359Curriculum and Techniques in Early Childhood4
ED 3400Creativity in Early Childhood2
ED 3401Instruction & Assessment of Reading3
ED 4479Assessment Strategies for Diverse Learners3
MATH 1200Data & Space: Teaching Pre K-93
Clincial Component
ED 4501Field Experience 13
ED 4502Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience 13
ED 4503Field Experience 23
ED 4504Field Experience 31
ED 4505Field Experience 41
ED 4506Field Experience 51
ED 4507Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience 23
Student Teaching Component
ED 4412Portfolio Completion - Elementary1
ED 4450Birth to Grade 3 Student Teaching12
Elective credits3
Lutheran (LCMS Members) Teacher Diploma Requirements
ED 2306Teaching the Faith3
REL 4000Lutheran Confessions3
Christian Teacher Certification Requirements
ED 2306Teaching the Faith3
Select one of the following
REL 3500A Survey of Christian Thought3
REL 3860Law and Gospel in the Life of the Church3
REL 4000Lutheran Confessions3
PHIL 3250Christian Apologetics3
PHIL 3340Christ and Culture3

Curriculum

Non-Licensable Post-Traditional Core Requirements44-47
Non-Licensable Early Childhood Major Requirements (Public)73
Non-Licensable Early Childhood Major Requirements (Lutheran or Christian Ed)79
Electives0-3
Total Hours120-126

Core Curriculum

Theology - Public Education
REL 1000The Bible3
REL 1100Christian Faith3
Theology - Lutheran (LTD) & Christian (CTC)
REL 2010Old Testament3
REL 2020New Testament3
REL 2030Biblical Theology3
CCE 1020Western Culture & Worldview3
CCE 1030Western Thought & Worldview3
CCE 1040Science & Humanity3
Liberal Arts Dimensions
ENG 2100College Writing3
Communication or Language course3
Faith and Life Elective3
ED 1102Foundations of Education3
HHP 1115Fit and Well2
Human Creativity and Expression: Art, Music, Theater, Literature or Graphic Design activity course3
MATH 1190Number Sense: Teaching Pre K-93
ENV 1050Introduction to Environmental Science3
ED 1103Human Relations for Teachers3
Society & Culture elective3

Early Childhood Major Requirements

Theoretical Component
ED 1230Nature of the Exceptional Child3
ED 1231Best Practices in Engaging Children in Literacy3
ED 1275Human Learning3
ED 4411The Profession and Ethics of Teaching3
Practical Component
ED 2204The Art & Science of Teaching Reading3
ED 2221Infant and Toddler Development3
ED 2327Collaborating with Families and Professionals in a Diverse Society3
ED 2358Emergent Writing: Birth to Grade 32
ED 2466Health, Safety, and Fitness for the Young Child3
ED 3356STEM: Math in Early Childhood2
ED 3357STEM: Science and Environment in Early Childhood2
ED 3359Curriculum and Techniques in Early Childhood4
ED 3400Creativity in Early Childhood2
ED 3401Instruction & Assessment of Reading3
ED 4479Assessment Strategies for Diverse Learners3
MATH 1200Data & Space: Teaching Pre K-93
Clincial Component
ED 4501Field Experience 13
ED 4502Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience 13
ED 4503Field Experience 23
ED 4504Field Experience 31
ED 4505Field Experience 41
ED 4506Field Experience 51
ED 4507Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience 23
Student Teaching Component
ED 4412Portfolio Completion - Elementary1
ED 4450Birth to Grade 3 Student Teaching12
Elective credits3
Lutheran (LCMS Members) Teacher Diploma Requirements
ED 2306Teaching the Faith3
REL 4000Lutheran Confessions3
Christian Teacher Certification Requirements
ED 2306Teaching the Faith3
Select one of the following
REL 3500A Survey of Christian Thought3
REL 3860Law and Gospel in the Life of the Church3
REL 4000Lutheran Confessions3
PHIL 3250Christian Apologetics3
PHIL 3340Christ and Culture3

Plan

Plan of Study Grid
Semester 1Hours
ED 1102 Foundations of Education 3
CCE 1030 Western Thought & Worldview 3
 Hours6
Semester 2
ED 1275 Human Learning 3
CCE 1020 Western Culture & Worldview 3
ED 2221 Infant and Toddler Development 3
REL 1000
The Bible
or Heritage of Faith
3
ED 4501 Field Experience 1 3
 Hours15
Semester 3
ED 1230 Nature of the Exceptional Child 3
MATH 1190 Number Sense: Teaching Pre K-9 3
ED 1103 Human Relations for Teachers 3
MATH 1200 Data & Space: Teaching Pre K-9 3
ED 4502 Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience 1 3
 Hours15
Semester 4
ED 2327 Collaborating with Families and Professionals in a Diverse Society 3
REL 1100
Christian Faith
or Biblical Theology
3
ED 1231 Best Practices in Engaging Children in Literacy 3
CCE 1040 Science & Humanity 3
 Hours12
Semester 5
ENG 2100 College Writing 3
ENV 1050 Introduction to Environmental Science 3
ED 2204 The Art & Science of Teaching Reading 3
FAITH & LIFE 3
ED 4503 Field Experience 2 3
 Hours15
Semester 6
ED 4504 Field Experience 3 1
ED 2358 Emergent Writing: Birth to Grade 3 2
HUMAN CREATIVITY & EXPRESSION 3
ED 2466 Health, Safety, and Fitness for the Young Child 3
HHP 1115 Fit and Well 2
ELECTIVE 3
ED 4505 Field Experience 4 1
 Hours15
Semester 7
ED 4506 Field Experience 5 1
ED 3401 Instruction & Assessment of Reading 3
COMMUNICATION & LANGUAGE 3
SOCIETY & CULTURE 3
ED 4479 Assessment Strategies for Diverse Learners 3
 Hours13
Semester 8
ED 3400 Creativity in Early Childhood 2
ED 3356 STEM: Math in Early Childhood 2
ED 4507 Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience 2 3
ED 3357 STEM: Science and Environment in Early Childhood 2
ED 3359 Curriculum and Techniques in Early Childhood 4
 Hours13
Semester 9
ED 4411 The Profession and Ethics of Teaching 3
ED 4412 Portfolio Completion - Elementary 1
ED 4450 Birth to Grade 3 Student Teaching 12
 Hours16
 Total Hours120

Course options and schedule are subject to change.